Since then, I’ve learned Meghan has shelled out at least £6,000 of her own money for the advice from the company’s chief Shawn Sachs and her friend Keleigh Thomas Morgan, who repped her when she was an actress on TV drama Suits.

"But it means the couple now have access to American PR and crisis management experts on their payroll whenever they want advice.

That’s even though they already have well-regarded global PR chief Sara Latham — who was a senior adviser to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign — working for them at Buckingham Palace.

Another royal source added: “This is Meghan’s way of being able to get a Hollywood answer to a question if she’s not hearing what she wants to from the Palace.

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Meghan and Prince Harry on their wedding dayCredit: PA/Wire

“But that’s a dangerous precedent to set because there is a reason why courtiers and advisers treat members of the Royal Family differently — they are not celebrities, they are publicly funded official figures with a formal role.

“And they need to hear the truth, even if it’s not the answer they want. That’s something Harry does not like and Meghan isn’t familiar with from her former career.

“They appear tone-deaf to criticism at times, which was proven this week by Harry in Amsterdam and by Meghan going to New York and not Balmoral.”

Meghan has refused to see dad Thomas Markle and he has not met her baby son ArchieCredit: James Breeden - The Sun

The clearest suggestion Meghan is choosing to ignore formal advice is shown by the growing influence of her secret team in Hollywood.
Key to the trio is Nick Collins, who is a partner at Meghan’s former talent agents The Gersh Agency.

Gersh is one of the leading agencies in Hollywood, with many Oscar winners and major TV stars in their client roster including Kristen Stewart, Adam Driver, Tobey Maguire and Jamie Foxx.

A separate senior royal insider revealed: “Courtiers at the Palace are aware of these three men working in some capacity for Meghan on the quiet. They have been involved in her finances which is understandable given her former work in America.

"What’s worrying is their role in ongoing projects like her children’s book, which would usually be handled by Palace staff.

“But she’s learning how different life inside the Royal Family is compared to her previous career. There are times she feels frustrated.”

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More than she bargained for? Meghan on a visit to Tonga last yearCredit: Getty - Pool

There is a growing feeling within royal circles that Meghan could be preparing to spend at least part of the year back in California in the future.

Prince Harry has already announced his first major TV project will be produced by Oprah Winfrey’s com­pany for US giant Apple’s new streaming service.

But senior Palace staff hope a plan for the couple to spend part of the year living in South Africa will stop them getting restless and unhappy in the UK.

The royal source added: “From just a few months after the royal wedding there has been a growing drum­beat about Harry and Meghan moving to the US eventually.

"That’s one of the reasons they are being encouraged to spend time in South Africa because it’s a Commonwealth country and keeps them part of the fold.”

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Meghan and Prince Harry with The Queen and Prince William at Buckingham PalaceCredit: Getty - Contributor

Some Palace staff wish Meghan had taken an exten­ded maternity leave after Archie’s birth so the goodwill from the public and media initially granted to her returned. But in fairness to Meghan, her allies point out that isn’t her style.

A source close to the Duchess explained: “Meghan is a working woman. She has spent her life using her talent, ambition and desire to create a successful career.

“She loves being busy and her intention was never to disappear because she became a mum.

“She wants to prove herself and doesn’t want to let criticism or tradition change what she sees as her purpose in life.”

You could argue that Meghan has never hidden her ambition.

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Is the Duchess of Sussex more interested in the showbiz world?Credit: Jon Bond - The Sun

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